More people inspired to make over homes

Last weekend, I spent two lovely, sunny days manning my booth at the Fremont Festival of the Arts. It was delightful talking with past clients who came to say hello and also meeting new ones. A good many people recognized me from this column, and I give a heartfelt thank you to those who were kind enough to say I look prettier in person than in my photo.

I was interested to hear about people's home improvement challenges. With the increasing popularity of HGTV, people are more interested than ever in creating beautiful, comfortable homes to share with their family and friends. Many people shared that they were trading up to larger homes to accommodate their growing families. Larger homes pose challenges. Many people said things like, "My living room is empty. It needs everything! Where do I begin?" Others said, "The new house needs updating. What do you recommend for floors/counters/lighting/colors?"  The best thing to do is go slowly. It doesn't need to be fixed up overnight. Live in the new house for a while; get a feel for how you use the new space. Draw a scaled floor plan of the room so you know what size the furniture pieces need to be. Research different materials so you can decide between hardwood, laminate and vinyl flooring.

While some are moving up to larger homes, others are downsizing. Now that they are retired empty-nesters, many homeowners are trading square footage for homes that are smaller, cozier and easier to maintain. Downsizing poses its own challenges, such as what to do with all of that extra furniture. One question I heard several times was, "How do we fit 3000 square feet of furniture into our new 1800 square foot home?" The answer is: You don't. You carefully select those pieces that are the most meaningful and the most practical for you. You select the pieces that fit and that will serve you well in that new, smaller space. You sell or donate the rest.

Many festival-goers liked the whole concept of the one-day interior redesign shown in my photo display. "I like my things," some said. "I just don't like how they are arranged." Others said, "I've had the same arrangement for years and I'm tired of it, but I don't know what else to do." These are the perfect clients for redesign. It's amazing how a redesigner's objective eye and flair for design can make such a big difference in someone's home.

Lots of folks were ready to banish white walls from their homes and were looking for a little guidance and courage. I understand the fear involved in picking colors, but I encourage you to give it a try! Believe me, once you try color on your walls, you will never go back to white.

For any home improvement challenges, don't be afraid to ask for help from an interior decorator or designer. We are full of creative ideas, information and resources to help you create a home you will love.

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on Aug. 20, 2005.

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All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna Jacoby.